How to pick the perfect Bed Sheets
Our Guide to thread count, material
and weaves will help you make the best choice.
By Corne van Breemen owner of Good
Night Linen
Thread count versus yarn size
Proper Bed sheets are a truly worthwhile
investment. Just as the right blanket or duvet inner provides the perfect
warmth for your cosy cocoon, the right sheets provide a comforting layer
against your skin. Slipping into a silky set of sheets is a relatively
inexpensive luxury, while cheaply made bargain bedding provides a false economy
given itchy, unpleasant sleep environment it creates.
Does thread count matter?
Wonderful bed linen relies on the
quality of raw cotton and the yarn it produces. The finest yarns feel fantastic
next to your skin and also wear really well. But many of us get caught up in
the lure of high thread count.
Thread count is the number of threads
per square inch of fabric. It tells you how closely woven a fabric is.
It's a common mistake to assume that
a higher thread count means a better quality fabric. In fact, the fineness of
yarn is more important. Look for a minimum of 200, but no higher than a 400. Anything over 400 is likely to
uncomfortably trap body heat.
Sheets falling within the Thread
count sweet spot of 280 to 400 will have a smooth, soft, absorbent and
breathable feel. They’ll wear better and shrink less, meaning you’ll
replace them less often than their cheaper counterparts.
CHOOSING THE MATERIAL.
Cotton
Cotton is the most widely used fibre
for making bed linen. Long lasting and easy to launder, it’s renowned for its
natural breathability and comfortable cool feeling. The longer the
'staple' of cotton, the finer the yarn, and so the smoother, softer and stronger
the bed linen.
Supima Cotton
Supima Cotton, short for Superior US
Pima Cotton, is extra-long staple cotton grown in the most sun-drenched parts
of America. It’s prized for its incredible strength and softness and cosy
warmth. Durability and longevity.
Egyptian Cotton
Egyptian cotton is deemed one of the
finest cottons due to the unusual long staple. Pure Egyptian cotton sheets are
very expensive. In most countries Egyptian cotton is blended with long or short
staple cotton varieties to supply the world market demand. You do not always
get what you paid for.
Easy-Care Cotton/Poly
Cotton Polyester blends produce bed
linen that is easy to launder and needs little to no ironing. BUT beware
of poor quality easy-care fabrics that quickly bobble and/or whose easy care
finish washes out. Good quality poly cotton will
have a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, woven to a 200 thread percale that
will feel smooth and soft.
Weaves
Percale
Percale is not a variety of cotton.
Percale is a type of plain weave –
one thread over, one thread under – that allows air to pass through, giving it
a lovely powdery coolness and breathability. Cotton or poly cotton can be
woven in percale and is commonly used for a 200 thread count up.
Sateen
Sateen is an elegant weave of four
threads over, one thread under, which places more threads on the surface of the
cloth to give a silky smooth feel and sheen. Sateen is very special to sleep in
and will embrace your skin with permanent soft touch. Do not
confuse Sateen with Satin.
Jacquard
Jacquard is woven on a special loom
to create a multi-dimensional pattern of sateen (which is raised threads) and
matt(which is flat), usually in stripe, check or floral design.
All your bed linen pieces
Pillowcase – Housewife or Oxford?
A housewife pillowcase is an edge to
edge pillowcase that fits to the contours of your pillow. It’s usually the one
you sleep on and the most popular style for children. An oxford pillowcase has an extra
border beyond the seamed edge. If layering pillows, we suggest you use a
housewife pillowcase underneath, but it’s down to personal preference.
Bottom sheet - fitted
A fitted sheet has elasticated
corners to keep it secure when you move about in your sleep. The sides
should be deep enough to fit your mattress.
Top Sheet
You need a flat top sheet if you make
a bed with blankets. You can also use one with a duvet to give your bed a
tailored look. When using your duvet as well as a top sheet, your top
sheet can be one size smaller so no tuck in is necessary
Duvet Cover – Standard or oxford?
A duvet cover comes in two styles: a
standard ‘bag’, which is and edge-to-edge seamed cover and an Oxford which has
an extra border, just like a Oxford pillowcase.
Bed wraps
A bed wrap is available in different
colours and have replaced the old bed frill/Valance. The bed wrap is used for
covering you mattress base to add that elegant finish to your bed and interior
of your room. With a bed wrap you do not need to lift you mattress from
your base anymore.
TIP
Make your bed linen easy to identify
by using coloured ribbon ties or by storing each set in a different pillowcase.
20 February 2015
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